NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose at the open on Wednesday, after a series of weak sessions, as strong earnings from technology bellwether Cisco and two retail chains boosted sentiment.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 14.63 points, or 0.11 percent, to 12,770.81. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 2.83 points, or 0.21 percent, to 1,377.36. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 12.29 points, or 0.43 percent, to 2,896.18.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Bernadette Baum)